Chapter 35
In my mind, it was supposed to be a dramatic moment where I had nearly been attacked, and Lirian had swooped in to save me.
I had taken him back to the pack after that. But what he was describing…it was completely different.
Lirian must’ve seen the blank look on my face because he smiled, but it was tinged with helplessness. “See? I told you that you wouldn’t remember.”
“No, no, that’s not true,” I stammered, my words stumbling over themselves. “I–I just didn’t expect that.”
“You’re kind,” Lirian said softly, his voice reassuring, “and you’ve done a lot of good things for people. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t remember every single act of kindness.”
His words were gentle, and the warmth in his eyes made me feel both touched and uneasy. He believed in my goodness so strongly, as if I was some kind of hero in his eyes.
But I knew there was more to the story. Something didn’t sit right with me.
“Why couldn’t I remember that moment?
And more importantly, why had he helped me so fiercely tonight?
Still caught in the haze of my thoughts, I decided to probe further. “But why would you think I’d bet mad at you for what you did to Arman? He
my cousin, yes, but..” I trailed off, waiting for his
answer.
Lirian tilted his head, as if considering his words carefully. “He is your cousin,” he repeated, histone even. “I thought…maybe because of your family bond, you might not like it if I hurt him.”
I paused. It was a simple and logical explanation. Too logical. But the Lirian I remembered from the past life had been wild, untamed, and often acted on instinct, not concern for familial relationships. Only after I had explicitly told him not to fight with others did he start to pay attention to that. This version of him, however, was already thinking about such things on his own.
bit my lip, feeling conflicted. Was I just overthinking it? Was I being paranoid because I was looking for something that wasn’t there?
I was so deep in thought that I didn’t notice Lirian’s eyes fixed on me. There was something intense about the way he looked at me, something I couldn’t quite place.
The Alpha’s Substitute Lana: & Heart Claimed, & Soul Reborn
And then, suddenly, I remembered the words of the Moon Goddess.
She had given me a gift. A special ability to hear the thoughts of others, though I hadn’t used it since
had been reborn.
What if I tried it now? What if I could hear Lirian’s thoughts and get to the bottom of this?
Focusing, I locked my gaze on Lirian’s eyes, trying to tap into that gift. His eyes widened slightly at my intense stare, and a hint of red flushed his cheeks. I ignored that and focused harder, willing the gift to activate.
Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over me, and then I heard it–his thoughts. Clear as day.
“Why does she keep staring at me? Did I do something wrong? But she looks so… cute. I really want to just kiss her and… possess her fiercely.
I blushed, my face burning as embarrassment surged through me.
Without even daring to look at Lirian again, I turned on my heel and fled. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, both from the surprise of his gentle touch and the overwhelming shame I felt.
What was happening to me?
had faced much worse than this, yet something about Lirian’s soft gaze and protective stance had me feeling off–kilter.
The party continued in full swing, laughter and conversation filling the air, but I was too distracted to enjoy any of it.
Even among the crowd, I could feel Lirian’s eyes on me, watching me quietly, never too far.
My skin prickled with awareness.
I tried to focus on the people around me, the clinking of glasses, and the buzz of conversation, but it was impossible. My heartbeat refused to settle.
Every glance I cast in Lirian’s direction sent my mind into a whirlwind.
I was purposely ignoring the strange mix of emotions bubbling inside me, pushing them aside as
much as I could, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down–Ryan. My stomach twisted at the sight of his name on the screen.
The first time, I didn’t answer.
26.8%
Chapter 33
Lirian approached, his presence grounding me even when my thoughts were in turmoil. He glanced at the vibrating phone.
“Not answering?” His voice was calm, steady, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
I shook my head, my fingers tightening around the phone as I shoved it back into my bag.
“No need,” I murmured. “It’s not important.”
Lirian didn’t push further, though I could sense his lingering concern.
He stayed by my side for the rest of the evening, a silent guardian of sorts.
Despite my attempt to ignore it, I found comfort in his closeness, even though it only added to my confusion. Why was he being so protective?
And why did I feel drawn to him in ways I hadn’t allowed myself to feel for anyone in years?
My musings didn’t last long as Ryan kept calling me- it seemed he desperately needed someone to pay his bills and clean up his mess.
